There’s a reason why Bastille topped the charts only a few weeks ago. And last nights show at Concorde 2 was an exhibition of their musical prowess. With the growing reputation the band have received from critics and fans alike, they certainly put on a show which heralded their capabilities. The bitterly gelid backdrop of the Brighton seafront made for the slow shuffling of melancholic punters into the venue, yet the electricity and energy of the stage presence was hugely contrasting to the seemingly Arctic climate. To the deafening raptures of the student heavy crowd, the South London indie quartet discretely appeared on stage nonchalant. They were accompanied by the gloomy and eerie tones of the Twin Peaks theme tune, a TV show which the band have revealed to be fascinated with and has been a major influence to the subject of their debut album. Dan Smith kicked off the proceedings with the highly energetic “Bad Blood”, all supported by Will Farquarson’s powerful, chunky bass tones and Kyle Simmons, a cosmic force on the keyboard. Smiths vocals were second to none. The tall-haired frontman was able to alter from dynamic falsettos to droned crooning throughout the varied setlist, exposing his vocal proficiency and stunning the audience. Not only this, he is very appreciative of his spectators and interacts with them, reaching out to each and every flailing hand near the stage. The band ventured through a number of tracks all derived from their many online EP’s, which were an instrumental part of Bastille’s rise to recognition. “The Weight of Living Pt 2” focused on the spine tingling cymbal crash crescendos whereas the soft and sweet “Oblivion” had everyone rocking from side to side in a dream like state. Their covers of City High’s “What Would You Do?” and Snap!’s “Rhythm is a Dancer” were both met by an almighty reception from the audience, which had each and every member synchronically belting out each and every word. Bastille had a friendly rapport and as the night ended, they revealed their most successful single “Pompeii” and fan-favourite “Flaws”, which sent the crowd into a frenzy of thunderous cheers. Overall it was a manifold set structure, encompassing both crowd pleasers and soft ballads, which all 4 members performed at a very high quality. A real showcase of their formidable talent.
Words by Tom Cox
